Page 109 - Perfect Phrases for Motivating and Rewarding

■ Be open to the voice of experience. Sometimes you can save
time and effort by building on a past approach or document
and by learning about past pitfalls.
■ If an older report is directly refusing to “answer to you” or
making jokes about your age, initiate a frank discussion. If
reasoning fails, deal with the action as you would any other
disruptive, counterproductive behavior that does not belong
in a business environment.
■ If you’re having trouble getting buy-in for your ideas from the
old guard, consider your presentation style and whether you
put down the old methods that served their purpose well.
Consider also whether you’ve given a reasonable time frame
for transitions.
■ Younger employees may feel frustrated when others are not
as technologically savvy as they are. Praise technological
prowess, but encourage patience.
■ Before you say, “We tried that ten years ago; it didn’t work,”
or “I know what works; I’ve tried it all,” consider how much
has changed. Could an approach that didn’t work then have
simply been before its time?
■ Don’t make people “pay their dues” on principle. Times,
entry-level skills, competitive offerings, and expectations have
changed.
■ If you believe younger workers don’t respect experience,
pause to consider whether you respect new ideas. If you
believe older workers don’t respect new ideas, pause to
consider whether you respect experience.

Motivational Phrases
■ “I’ve been doing this so long I sometimes get stuck in my ways.
I know you have a lot of great ideas. Let’s schedule a time to sit
down and talk about them.”
■ “Before you completely dismiss old methods, consider whether
it might be best to build on them. Looking at all angles will
ultimately make your idea stronger.”

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